DeLand native Luke Weaver continues to shine in FSU's ace role

Entering tough series at Virginia, Weaver tries to continue to pace 'Noles

April 18, 2013|By Coley Harvey, Orlando Sentinel

TALLAHASSEE — As he strutted his long, lean frame toward the pitcher's mound at Miami's Mark Light Field, Luke Weaver was talking to himself, offering simple reminders that he was just pitching in another ballgame.

Focus on getting ahead of each hitter. Throw strikes. Get quick outs. Use your slider effectively.

Remain calm.

The statements are the same ones the Florida State right-hander ponders whenever he prepares for a hopeful seven-, eight- or nine-inning start, but on April 5, when the Seminoles traveled to face their rival Hurricanes, they took on even greater significance.

"I knew Miami was a really good team and it's a big rivalry, but I knew I had to stay within myself and stay relaxed and not get too over-amped and out of my normal game routine," Weaver said.

Aside from starting against the Hurricanes for the first time, there was another reason the sophomore from DeLand was trying to center his thoughts that much more. He was accomplishing another important individual first. At long last, his watching and waiting had ended. His prayers had been answered. He was entering FSU's weekend rotation as a potential full-time starter.

"You always want to be in the weekend rotation. That's your main goal," Weaver said.

With left-handed ace Brandon Leibrandt struggling to find consistency, the Seminoles decided to shake up their pitching rotation before embarking to South Florida. Their steady, mid-week go-to guy, Weaver, was moved to the top of the staff, taking over Leibrandt's Friday night duties. The sophomore lefty moved into the Saturday night role, with senior Scott Sitz moving from pitching on Saturdays to pitching on Sundays.

Three weeks later, ahead of another important road series, the changes appear to have paid off.

"We have other guys who have been pitching well," Weaver said. "I knew that it's definitely something that I've had to earn. I'd have to pitch well."

As No. 6 FSU (31-6, 13-5 ACC) travels to No. 8 Virginia (32-6, 13-5) on Friday evening for the first game of a three-game conference series, Weaver will look to build upon his perfect 4-0 record. In nine appearances this season, including seven starts, he has not recorded a loss. He also boasts a 1.40 ERA and a team-high 51 strikeouts.

"He's done a great job of attacking the [strike] zone this year, and then once he's been in the zone, he's being able to put guys away or get the easy out with two or three pitches," FSU pitching coach Mike Bell said.

Since taking over as the Friday starter, Weaver has a win and has allowed just three earned runs in 12 innings. After beating rival Florida twice in earlier mid-week starts, he earned a five-inning no-decision against Miami before silencing Duke's bats in a 16-2 thumping in Tallahassee last weekend.

Weaver's start at Miami marked the first time since 2011 that any pitcher other than Leibrandt had started for FSU on a Friday night.

"I've been really happy about the whole transition," Weaver said. "I tried not to change anything when I came into this new role. It's been a little different. There may be more pressure pitching the first game of the series because they're important, but I try not to look at it like that. I just try to stay calm, collected about the whole thing and try to do the best that I can."

With one of the ACC's hottest hitting teams waiting for him this weekend, Weaver will have to keep that approach.